One of the most anticipated moments of the season has arrived, as this new edition of the Champions League. This year a new format is released and the number of participants has increased to 36 clubs, so now you can get that long-awaited and desired Orejona It will be more difficult because more matches will have to be played than the European teams were used to after a few years maintaining the same group stage system that has already disappeared.
This year in the Spanish Champions League will once again have four representatives. The most notable is the Real Madrid, that comes to this new format of the Champions League as the current champion, since a few months ago he was proclaimed champion by beating the Borussia Dortmund. Furthermore, talking about those of Thorn Shell is to make him the king of this competition because no one has won so many Eared Ears like them. There is also the Barcelona, who has not won the competition since 2015 and wants to once again taste what it is like to conquer the old continent. As for the Atlético de Madridwith three lost finals behind them, hope that this will be the year to lift the trophy for the first time in their history. But, for a historical appearance, that of Gironawho will participate for the first time in this competition and those of Michelle They want to leave a good feeling, although they know that it will be very complicated for them.
What is the new Champions League like?
Fans are aware that this edition of the Champions League which starts this Tuesday, September 17, has a new format and not everyone understands it yet. There will no longer be that mythical group stage with four teams divided into eight draws and playing back and forth against three rivals to get the necessary points to finish first or second and thus advance to the round of 16 of the highest continental competition. This way of understanding Champions League it’s over.
To begin with, it must be explained that the number of participants in the Champions League has changed. From the 32 teams that played in previous years we went to 36 clubs fighting for that dream of raising the Orejona at the end of the season. Now, the format of the Champions League It works in conjunction with a league of which all the clubs are part.
Each team will face eight rivals throughout the group stage of the CChampions Leagueplaying four games away and another four playing at home. In the draw there were four pots based on the ranking of the UEFA and each team had two opponents from the first pot, another two from the second, two from the third and also two from the fourth.
The clubs, as usual, will add three points for a victory, one for a draw and zero for a loss and the 36 teams will be in the same classification even if they are not all against all. This means that there will only be one table in this new format of the Champions League and, obviously, finishing as high as possible will serve to advance to the final phases of the Champions League.
Which teams go to the round of 16 of the Champions League
Once the league phase of the Champions League at the end of January, it will end later this year with two more matches being played in this first round, we will know who qualifies for the playoffs. The top eight teams in the classification of this exciting new format of the top continental competition will go directly to the round of 16.
Those from ninth to twenty-fourth will also qualify for the next round, but between them they will have to play a kind of play off with a round-trip eliminator. We can understand it better if we were talking about a round of 32, but it really wouldn’t be like that because the top eight in the standings don’t have to play it and would already be waiting to meet their rival in the round of 16.
In addition, it must be remembered that for a few years now the double value of away goals is no longer valid, so the goals scored in each match will be added and if there is a tie at the end of the second leg, an extra time will have to be played. . If the tie persists, we would add that penalty shootout to decide who advances to the phase.
We also find a difference with respect to the other format of the Champions League. While the third in the group bounced to the Europa Leaguewith this new style of the Champions League Those who remain from twenty-fifth to thirty-sixth will be eliminated and will say goodbye to the European competitions, so it will be a very big blow to be in those positions.
Champions League dates
The league phase of the Champions League It begins in the month of September, while it will end in the month of January with a unified day. The play-offs will be in February, while we will have to wait until March to enjoy the round of 16. Throughout April we will be able to see those who have qualified for the quarterfinals compete and the semi-final eliminators will be at the end of April and beginning of May. The grand final is scheduled for May 31 at the Allianz Arena.
- Champions League group stage: from September 17 to January 29.
- First leg of the play offs: February 11-12, 2025.
- Second leg of the play offs: February 18-19, 2025.
- First leg of the round of 16: March 4-5, 2025.
- Round of 16 second leg: March 11-12, 2025.
- Quarterfinal first leg: April 8-9, 2025.
- Quarterfinal return: April 15-16, 2025.
- Semifinal first leg: April 29-30, 2025.
- Semifinal second leg: May 6-7, 2025.
- Champions Final: May 31, 2025.
